Catching the number 4 wire at the TR. Aircraft usually go for the number 3 wire. Pilots are aiming for that wire, as it is the safest/most effective one. They never aim for the 1st because that one is dangerously close to the edge of deck. If they come in too low on the 1st wire, they could easily crash into the stern of the ship. It is acceptable to snag the 2nd or 4th wire, but for a pilot to move up through the ranks, he/she has to be able to catch the 3rd wire consistently. In the squadron room the achievement of each pilot is logged, catching too many times the wrong ones cost you beers

Picturing from the off set angle corner of the flight deck is an experience you will never forget. This Prowler was launched from catapult 4 (the left catapult opposite the island, just near the edge of the flight deck) and is pictured at some 165 miles per hour (about 260km/u) with only a 28mm lens (and the picture is not cropped!) So it's really close. That speed, that noise!

Ready for some armament to be attached to its pylons, on deck of the TR during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Being directed over the busy deck of the TR during Operation Iraqi Freedom, the yellow shirt must be very sure of his profession, not hitting the big props of this Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron (VAW) 124 "Bear Aces" Hawkeye.

A Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 87 "Golden Warriors" baby Hornet on the deck of the Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71) while sailing in the Persian Gulf during Operation Iraqi Freedom. The squadron is normally based at NAS Oceana (VA) and tranisitoned to F/A-18E Super Hornet in 2015.

A Hornet resting at the Theordore Roosevelt's deck, awaiting a new Operation Iraqi Freedom mission. The aircraft is loaded with a targeting pod on the intake and underneath the left wing (station 2) a Mark 82 1,000lb Guided Bomb Unit. This Hornet crashed on 13 June 2008 after a midair collision with F-5F BuNo 160965 of VFC-13.

An Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 141 "Shadowhawks" EA-6B Prowler awaiting permission to taxi to the cat. The ground crew is checking the aircraft, quite a dangerous environment with all those air breathing intakes.

A Strike Fighter squadron (VFA) 15 "Valions" F/A-18C going fot the number three wire on board the USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71) under the careful watch of three Tomcats.

S-3B Viking of Sea Control Squadron (VS) 24 "Scouts" manoeuvring over the deck of the USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71).

Three Tomcats parked on the rear side of the massive flight deck of the USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71).

A legacy Hornet on board the USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71) while sailing in the Persian Gulf.

CAG bird on the cat of the USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71) during the sundown cruise of the Tomcat.